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AN ANALYSIS OF FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE IN THE PICTURE OF DORIAN GRAY BY OSCAR WILDE
M
UH.
ROCHMAT MUCHSON SANTOSO1,
ISKANDAR2*Universitas Negeri Makassar
*Corresponding Email: [email protected]
Abstract
Figurative language is described as the use of words or idioms having meanings that deviate from their literal meanings. Poets use this language to state things in an unconventional way, i.e. to communicate meaning indirectly. Using the theories of Knickerbocker and Reninger, In written texts, and use of figures of speech is common. . designed to achieve aesthetic effects or beauty in order to pique the reader's attention. Because figurative language is concerned with and has an aesthetic meaning, linguistic study on figurative language is interesting. The study's initial purpose was to identify the many sorts of metaphorical language that may be found in Oscar Wilde's work "The Picture of Dorian Gray." The second purpose is to use theories from knickerbocker and reninger to linguistically evaluate meanings in figure of speech analysis in work "The Picture of Dorian Gray." As a result, the author chose an examination of figurative language in classic "The Picture of Dorian Gray" was stated in the header his qualitative research and descriptive procedures in this study. the research findings are presented in extracts from the transcript. An examination of figurative language in work him "The Picture of Dorian Gray" found 37 figurative languages, with 5 categories of figurative language. 16 metaphors selected from 37 figurative languages that dominate or feature often in study items. With 16, simile is the second highest appearance, followed by personification with 6, and exaggeration and synecdoche each with two. The figurative language discovered was linguistically evaluated utilizing Knickerbocker and Reninger's methods in understanding literature (1963) to study figurative language from its essential constituents.
Keywords: Novels, Sentences, and Figurative Language Categories
INTRODUCTION
McKay (2018), The vast majority of books, academic papers, newspapers, and publications in the globe are written in English. Never before in human history has such a large number of people spoken (or at least partially spoken) a single language. People use language to communicate with one another through a system of spoken and written symbols. Humans need language to communicate, interact, and get information from others. Literature is a creative work that use the medium of "language." Literature is a creative work that portrays human experience in society in a way that society may appreciate, grasp, and apply. Numerous presenters, each with a distinct background and set of personal experiences and viewpoints on the issue Meyer (2018).
According to Sardani (2018), utterances are a linguistic style characteristic. Figures are employed to put something into context or to demonstrate something in order to communicate a message. A popular method for developing figures is to look for similarities between things' qualities, situations, forms, colors, locations, and periods. Several studies of literary works that use metaphorical language.
The researcher found utterances or sentences that deal with figurative language and the reactions of pupils to what they heard or read The researcher then establishes two fundamental questions in response to this problem:
1.What kinds of metaphorical language are included in the novel?
2.What are the major figures of speech themes in the novel?
Review of Literature Semantics
The study of meanings is called meanings. The name is derived from a mythology word "semanen" (to denote or imply). Realizing the link amongst items and speech or any other things or concepts to which they refer is crucial. The study of the real meaning of words in current languages is referred to as semantics (Pardede, 2016).
The term "semantics," according to the quotation, refers to a wide spectrum of concepts ranging from the widely known to the highly specialized. It's a common expression in ordinary English to denote a problem with comprehension caused by diction or interpretation.
Figurative Language
Figurative language's main goal is to express concepts in a veiled or indirect manner (Wulandari, 2018). In this case, she describes how figurative languages are used to represent information that isn't literal. Words or phrases
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having meanings that differ from the literal translation create a particular language. Intertextuality is sometimes referred to as metaphorical language or simply metaphor, according to Knickerbockers and Reninger (1963:367), since its Greek predecessor "Metepherein" means "to communicate meaning beyond its literal meaning."
Metaphor, simile, personification, synecdoche, exaggeration, metonymy, irony, contradiction, and allusion are among the expressive language used in this work.
Metaphor
Knickerbocker and Renninger (1963:367), define figurative language as an inferred comparison, or a phrase employed alone without words "like" or "as" in a new connotation depending on a connection in between previous meaning and the new item or event under which it is applied. (Anglia, 2018).
Examples :
- His words cut deeper than a knife.
Sharp things do not take the shape of words. In this metaphor, someone has spoken something hurtful to another.
Simile
A simile is a comparison between two diverse sorts of items that share at least one attribute. A simile is a literary technique that compares two separate elements and emphasizes a shared trait by using the words "like" or "as."
In contrast to a straightforward comparison, a simile compares different separate objects. Naturally, this corresponds to the declaration of (Knickerbocker and Renninger, 1963:367).
Consider the following examples:
- She moved like a deer.
In this case, the likeness is much closer; at the very least, a deer and a person are both living entities.
However, they are diverse enough to serve as a metaphor. After all, while she could be graceful if she moved like a deer, her sanity would be questioned. The connection is still metaphorical because we're simply saying she moves with some of the characteristics of a deer, not exactly like one!
Hyperbole
Exaggeration is used for shock value in hyperbole, a phrase of expression and artistic style. According to Knickerbocker and Renninger (1963:367), Exaggeration is a figure of speech that uses embellishment for dramatic effect. It is commonly utilized in rhetoric and literature for serious, humorous, or humorous purposes.
Consider the following examples:
- She’s going to die of embarrassment.
This does not imply that the girl will become unwell or that her heart would stop beating as a result of her humiliation. Instead, the speaker uses exaggeration to show how ashamed she will be.
Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a means of representing the entire with a single component. The use of a component to symbolize the whole is known as synecdoche. Pars pro toto and Totem proparte are the two sections. Totem proparte is when the entire thing represents its component, whereas Pars pro toto is when a single portion represents the entire entity. "Semacam Bahasa kiasan mempergunakan Sebagian untuk menyatakan keseluruhan atau keseluruhan untuk menyatakan Sebagian," according to Keraf (2009:142), ("A type of metaphorical language in which a part expresses the whole or the whole expresses the component.")
Examples:
- A boy has been admitted to the hospital. The nurse says, “He’s in good hands.”
The youngster is not being physically cared after by two individuals. Rather, he is being looked after by a whole hospital system, which includes nurses, aides, physicians, and a variety of other staff. This is an example of microcosmic synecdoche, when one component reflects the whole.
Personification
Personification is a type of metaphorical in and you can use human terms to describe an inanimate object, abstract concept, or ou pas creature. It's utilized to provide mystery and fascination to places or people. Personification is the process of perceiving an object as a person. It allows the speaker and listener to comprehend a wide range of animal entity changes, which include human aims, traits, and actions. It is the process of imbuing human traits into something that isn't real. (Knickerbocker and Renninger, 1963:637).
Examples:
- Science-fiction novels were his constant companions.
Books are just material; a 'companion' can only be a human or an animal. However, this personification suggests that the books were precious to him and brought him delight, as if they were close friends.
Metonymy
Metonymy allows readers to give a new meaning to a phrase or idea by using a closely related term or thought.
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As a consequence, authors can employ this strategy to alter their tone and make an impression on their audience.
Metonymy is a way for describing something by referring to something that is similar to it (Knickerbocker and Reninger 1963: 367). Metonymy is a type of figurative language in which an object or notion is referred to by the name of another object or concept that is closely linked to it rather than by its own name.
Example :
- "the King" is referred to as "the Crown." In the above example, "The Crown" refers to the ruler of a country or empire, "The King."
Irony
Irony is a story element in which seemingly conflicting words or events reveal an other reality. In fiction, there are many different types of irony. The reader's hopes and knowledge of the gap among what "might" happen as well as what "really" happens in a beautifully written impact the efficacy of irony as both a rhetorical tool. Irony is when a statement's underlying meaning is diametrically opposed to its stated or seeming meaning (Knicerbocker and Reninger:1963).
Example :
- The czar is God's voice, and he will live forever
"A czar is an authoritarian man," says the statement above.
The czar is not God's chosen and will reign indefinitely. The author is attempting to convey a sarcastic impression that is diametrically opposed to the true meaning.
Paradox
A paradox is a sentence that appears to be contradictory at first, but with more thought, makes sense. This literary device is commonly used to lure a reader to look for underlying logic in seemingly contradictory sentences or phrases. As a result, contradiction allows readers to grasp concepts in a unique, even unusual way. A paradox is a statement that at first glance looks unreasonable, even absurd, but which, upon closer examination, makes perfect sense (Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963: 367).
Example :
- I must be cruel, only to be kind.
Characters in many stories struggle with the question of whether it is permissible to do things that appear to be morally wrong in order to achieve goals that appear to be morally right.
Allusion
An allusion is a reference to a well-known place, event, or person. Not literally, but in the sense that the figure carries more information than its exact meaning. (368) (Knickerbocker and Reninger, 1963). An allusion is a figure of speech that refers to a person, place, thing, or event.
Example :
“No! I am not Prince Hamlet, nor was meant to be.”
The subject "I" in the example above was not Prince Hamlet and does not desire to be him.
Novel
The most popular fictions are novels and short tales, which are the most written and read literary works. The word novel comes from the Italian novella, Spanish novela, and French nouvelle, which all mean "new," "news," or "a concise summary of anything new." Novella is a literary term that translates to "a short tale in prose form" and means "a small brand new item." A book is defined as a novel with numerous events, a plot with characters, a setting, a theme, a point of view, and the worldview of the characters. According to Nirwana & Khaswar (2020), a novel is a form of literary work that everybody may enjoy. There are two types of novels: fiction and nonfiction.
METHOD
Qualitative research is a data analysis methodology based on interpretivism or venture creation philosophy that seems to be a tool for examining on state of environmental friendly products, according to (Sugiyono, 2021), where the analyst is the critical component, methodology is subterfuge (cumulative interpretation, conversations, recordkeeping), collected information prefers descriptive analysis, data analysis is qualitative/inductive, and qualitative study findings. Creswell's classification of qualitative methods puts them into five categories:
Exploratory methodologies, theory development, ethnographic research, research publications, and narrative analysis are just a few examples.
In this study, qualitative descriptive methodologies were applied. It meant explaining, analyzing, evaluating, and grasping the current situation. Previously, descriptive research was used to show the presence of phenomena by describing them exhaustively. This method teaches how to recognize a fact and characterize the status of a study item based on the facts as they were, as well as how to analyze data in order to discover the truth. Each qualitative study will have a different collection of data sources depending on the study's objective. The volumes
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of The Pictures of Dorian Gray were used as a source of data for this study, as were other supporters of the research through electronic books (ebooks). These are the details:
• The novels of The Pictures of Dorian Gray via Electronic book (ebook).
• Other references/resources that conduct with this study of the research.
As a result, data reduction analysis must be completed as quickly as feasible. Choosing, reducing, summarizing, and identifying the most important Objects are used to represent data, with an emphasis on the most important components and a search for themes and patterns. As a result, the reduced data will present a better picture, allowing researchers to acquire and identify additional data as needed. The information must then be shown. Data in qualitative data may be presented in a variety of ways, including useful summaries, charts, category connections, schematics, and other forms. Previously, For qualitative study data, narrative was the most common method of presentation. Its fourth stage of qualitative data analysis, according to Miles, Huberman, and Saldana, is drawing conclusions and verifying them. The preliminary results are still tentative, and if insufficient evidence is found to support the next round of data collecting, they will be changed.
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION
The writer will make two points in this chapter. The first point is data collection, and the second is conversation.
There are figurative language samples based on Knickerbockers and Reninger theory that occur in The Pictures of Dorian Gray, where the writer interprets the varieties of figurative language. According to Knickerbockers and Reninger's figurative languages hypothesis, there are five varieties of figurative languages: metaphor, simile, personification, exaggeration, and synecdoche.
Findings
The writer discovered 37 exact forms of figurative language in this novel with sentence and conversation in Oscar Wilde's novel The Pictures of Dorian Gray in 1890, which will be described in this section.
Metaphor Extract 2
(Chapter IV: 50)
(Juliet, though! Consider a seventeen-year-old girl with a floral face, a small Greek head with plaited coils of black hair, violet wells of yearning in her eyes, and bright red lips.)
Dorian is intrigued by Sibyl's depiction of Juliet in Shakespeare's play, according to the second passage.
He calls her a gorgeous creature. In a metaphor, her eyes are linked to "violet wells of desire."
Simile Extract 18
(Chapter XVI :177)
("The path appeared endless, and the streets like a vast spider's black web.") The monotony grew unpleasant, and he got scared as the mist increased.")
The Gothic tone of the story is exemplified by the night depiction of the dreary streets of London's East End as Dorian walks to the opium den. The usage of an analogy comparing as from alleys to either a dark web
"sprawling spider" heightens the sensation of discomfort. Dorian is terrified as the mist thickens, foreseeing the danger he will face when James Vane attempts to murder him.
Hyperbole Extract 28
(Chapter VII :88)
("He had suffered decades of misery, aeon upon aeon of torture throughout the three horrible hours that the performance had lasted.")
Wilde's use of exaggeration creates an exaggerated, larger-than-life sense in this excerpt, underlining the play's terror. "He had suffered ages of sorrow, aeon upon aeon of torture" by putting pen to paper. He equates Dorian's mental/emotional anguish with physical pain, compounding his displeasure with the performance.
Synecdoche Extract 31
(Chapter I :9)
("I rounded the corner and saw Dorian Gray") I felt my face becoming pale when we locked gazes. I felt a strange sense of horror wash over me. I knew I'd encountered anyone whose manner was already so alluring that, if I allowed it, it'd absorb my core premise, soul, and creativity.")
It regularly used macrocosmic synecdoche in the 31st excerpt, referring of ties relating to people as
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interactions with their components, from eyes and faces to whole nature and human souls. He likes this use of symbolic meaning since he was afraid the first time he met Dorian as he understood the little man's character was just so powerful that it might swallow him.
Personification
(Chapter XIV :155)
("With quiet, blood-stained feet, the events of the previous night crawled into his head and recreated themselves there with horrible distinctness.")
This is an example of personification in action for the 33rd extract in the result. "The events of the prior night crawled into his head with quiet, blood-stained feet and recreated themselves there with horrible distinctness," Wilde writes. Such details give the sample a sinister vibe, as though the reader is in excruciating torment.
DISCUSSION
According to Knickerbockers and Reninger (1963), there are five forms of figurative language: metaphor, simile, exaggeration, synecdoche, and personification. The author uncovered 37 excerpts based on facts utilized in Dorian Gray's novel and the other characters in this work.
Because the literal meaning and the new item or condition are comparableThe metaphoric is an unspoken connection or assumption made about a new thing or situation. This data contains 16 extracts that the main character and other characters use in their conversations and statements. A simile, on the other hand, is a comparison of two distinct entities that share at least one feature. In the data, there are 11 examples of simile in figurative language; simile is the second most prevalent figurative language. Personification is a type of metaphor in which you use human language to describe an inanimate object, abstract concept, or non-human animal, and it is a type of metaphor that is used in the cheval cheval.
In this data, there are 6 samples of figurative language of personification that are used indirectly in a dialogue and phrases by the main character Dorian Gray and the other characters in this literature. Hyperbole is the story's other principal style of figurative language. Hyperbole is more severe than exaggeration, but it is also more commonly employed and may have a dramatic effect. This data contains extracts that the main character and other characters in this work utilize. A synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part represents the whole or the whole represents a component. It's one of the last types of metaphorical language used in this piece.
CONCLUSION
Review throughout this section, the writer may reach different result:
1. The writer claims that there are five of nine varieties of figurative language, including Metaphor, Simile, Hyperbole, Synecdoche, and Personification, in the discourse. According to Knickerbockers and Reninger theories, this narrative contains a lot of metaphorical language.
2. In each discussion and statement, these five varieties of figurative language have different meanings. The figurative language metaphor is the most prevalent or often noticed type of metaphorical language in the extract.
3. Its work is enhanced by the use of metaphorical language entertaining to read and helps readers imagine the poetry; yet, the reader's imagination stays inside the narrative's setting. Oscar Wilde's selected poems' lines sought to express information on human social life, including love, melancholy, happiness, spirit, and other issues. The lines of Oscar Wilde's work use metaphorical language that aids comprehension. What use does metaphorical language serve? Its purpose is to make each statement easier to grasp by simplifying and clarifying its meaning.
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